Method and system for testing configuration of environments

Abstract

A method and system for testing configuration of environments are provided. A probe for connection to a network and/or devices interacts to launch a configuration analyser tool. The configuration analyser tool includes a test mechanism for running a set of tests for the probe relating to connectivity and configuration of attached networks and devices before connection and suggesting solutions to test results. The tests may be externalised and dynamically loaded at run time of the configuration analyser tool.

1 . A method for testing configuration of environments, comprising:
 executing a probe for connection to a network;   launching a configuration analyser tool from the probe;   dynamically loading one or more externally stored tests at run time of the configuration analyser tool; and   running a set of tests for the probe, the tests relating to connectivity and configuration of the network, before connecting to the network.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising suggesting solutions to one or more test results. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing one or more test results and one or more suggested solutions in a log file.   
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in claim in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a summary of tests run and one or more suggested solutions.   
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing one or more test files for a probe name with an associated suggestions file; and   accessing the stored test files for the probe in response to launching the configuration analyser tool from the probe.   
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 checking the syntax of one or more test files before running the set of tests.   
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein if running the set of tests results in a connectivity or configuration problem, the connection is aborted. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the configuration analyser tool is transparent to an administrator. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the method tests event management integration products. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the set of tests is selected from the group consisting of testing if a server is working, testing if a firewall is in place between two machines, testing to see if a port is open on a machine, testing if rules and properties files exist, testing if rules and properties files are syntax correct, testing if a text file conforms to a regular expression, testing if a syntax checker installed, testing if there is space for a log file, and testing if a failover probe configured. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the probe is an event management system probe for collecting enterprise-wide event information. 
     
     
         12 . A computer program product for testing configuration of environments, the computer program product comprising:
 a computer readable medium;   computer program instructions operative to:
 execute a probe for connection to a network; 
 launch a configuration analyser tool from the probe; 
 dynamically load one or more externally stored tests at run time of the configuration analyser tool; and 
 run a set of tests for the probe, the tests relating to connectivity and configuration of the network, before connecting to the network; 
   wherein said program instructions are stored on said computer readable medium.   
     
     
         13 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising computer program instructions operative to suggest solutions to one or more test results. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising computer program instructions operative to:
 store one or more test results and one or more suggested solutions in a log file.   
     
     
         15 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising computer program instructions operative to:
 provide a summary of tests run and one or more suggested solutions.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising computer program instructions operative to:
 store one or more test files for a probe name with an associated suggestions file; and   access the stored test files for the probe in response to launching the configuration analyser tool from the probe.   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising computer program instructions operative to:
 check the syntax of one or more test files before running the set of tests.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein if running the set of tests results in a connectivity or configuration problem, the connection is aborted. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the configuration analyser tool is transparent to an administrator. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the set of tests is selected from the group consisting of testing if a server is working, testing if a firewall is in place between two machines, testing to see if a port is open on a machine, testing if rules and properties files exist, testing if rules and properties files are syntax correct, testing if a text file conforms to a regular expression, testing if a syntax checker installed, testing if there is space for a log file, and testing if a failover probe configured. 
     
     
         21 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the probe is an event management system probe for collecting enterprise-wide event information. 
     
     
         22 . A system for testing configuration of environments, comprising:
 a probe for connection to a network;   a configuration analyser tool launched from the probe, including:
 a test loader component for dynamically loading one or more externally stored tests at run time of the configuration analyser tool; and 
 a test mechanism for running a set of tests for the probe, the tests relating to connectivity and configuration of the network, before connecting to the network. 
   
     
     
         23 . The system as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a log file for storing one or more test results and one or more suggested solutions.   
     
     
         24 . The system as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a library storing test files for a probe name with an associated suggestions file; and the test mechanism accessing the stored test files for the probe launching the configuration analyser tool.